Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1887-06-04
THE HRST ACCIDENT.

Jerry Toomey, While Working in the
Parrot Crushed to Death,-The First
Accident that Ever Occurred in the
Nine-The Coroner's Jury E~x0nerated
the Company From Any Blame.
Yesterday forenoon occurred the first
accident, fatal or otherwise, which has
ever taken place at the Parrot mine. 1t
| was one which was unavoidable so far as
concerned the superintendent and foreman.
and is solely attributable to want OF pre-
caution on the part OF the unfortunate
man who paid with his life the penalty OF
heedlessness. Jerry Toomey and his part
ner, John Sullivan, were working in astope
| about forty-two feet above the 800 level.
I They had gone ahead OF the timbers about
two sets of timbers. Toomey was working
under the hanging wall removing the debris
that had fallen after a blast had been dis
charged while his partner was at work
under the hanging wall. Suddenly and
WITHOUT THE LEAST WARMING
a piece Of the hanging wall gave way and
fell on Toomey's back. He was in the act
of shoveling, and the piece OF rock, about a
carload, fell upon him and struck him to
the floor. His partner Immediately gave
the alarm and James T. Harder and
Thomas Harris, who were about 200 feet
from where he was, came to his assistance
and helped to extrirate hin from the rub
bish. They assisted him to the lower level
and took him to his house. at the head OF
Dublin Gu!ch. on the north side of the new
railroad track east of the Clear Grit mine.
There he was attended by Drs. Bishop and
Leavitt, who did all that medical skill
could do to
RELIEVE THE
The poor fellow was evidently suffering in
tensely, and Superintendent Tibbey was
with him constantly during the day. He
fingered in great pain until about half-past
six, when he died from internal injuries and
shock to his nervous system. There was
no apparent injury, except one rib broken.
His ace. however, was considerably bruised
by rude contact with the floor. Mr.. lib
hey made immediate arrangements for
holding an inquest, and Coroner Amsden
went up to the house where the dead man
lay about 8 O'Clock.
THE INQUEST.
A great number ofthe dead mans friends
were assembled about the house OF death
when the Coroner arrived. Sympathizing
female friends crowded the two smallrooms,
and stifed sobs from the bereaved wife
alone broke the hush that pervaded the
apartments. Everyone spoke in whispers:
The testimony : given was very full and
exonerAted everyone from
blame. John Sullivan, who worked on the
shift with the dead man, was the first wit
ness. He had known the dead man, for
two years. Toomey could speak when he
was brought up:.andiknew perfectlyiwell what
was doing. They were preparing to
had drilled two holes and cleaned
and were trying to get them in when.
THE CAVE OCCURRED.
Toomey had tried the wall and found it
pretty dummy. The falling rock was a
kind OF waste. It was a treacherous wall.
Mr.. Tibbey had given them frequent warn
ings to be sure and put in stulls, inc about
half an hour before the piece fell he came
round and told them to get it timbered.
They replied they were doing SO as fast as
they could. The wall seemed rs sound as
the rest.
John Powell testified he was the third
man who was there. He helped to get
L OOtutN 10 IL 5udlUs L "OIhCO ClObC W
him. No one wal to blame for the ACCT
Thomas Harris was there immediately
after the accident occurred Toomey had
half a car load Of rock Oh his legs when he
got there.
JAMES T. HARDER
not see the accident, which occurred
about a quarter OF IL. He and his partner
were drilling. Heard some one hollering,
but thought it was come one calling time.
Thinks he heard two or three blows on the
drill. They were at work on the sixth
floor. The yelling continued and he ran
the slope and found Sullivan holding
him up, while from his legs down was
with loose rock. Threw the rocks
off Toomey's legs and with Harris assist
ance helped him to the shaft. Knew the
hanging wall
WAC A nan pJEcE |